Air conditioning device for an air flow

ABSTRACT

An air conditioning device for a vehicle seat, the air conditioning device includes: at least one flow generator to generate an air flow; at least one air inlet opening fluidically connected to a flow inlet of the flow generator to draw in air to be temperature-controlled; at least one air outlet opening fluidically connected to a flow outlet of the flow generator to eject the temperature-controlled air; and a temperature-control device configured to control a temperature of the air drawn in through the at least one air inlet opening prior to the air being ejected from the at least one air outlet opening; the at least one air inlet opening and the at least one air outlet opening are arranged next to one another.

PRIORITY

This application is a US National Stage Entry under 35 U.S.C. § 371 ofPCT Application Number PCT/DE2020/000065 filed on Mar. 19, 2020, whichclaims the benefit of DE 102019002315.3 filed on Mar. 29, 2019, all ofwhich are hereby incorporated by reference herein for all purposes.

FIELD

These teachings relate to an air conditioning device for a vehicle seat.

BACKGROUND

Generic air conditioning devices are used, for example, for warming orheating or for cooling air flows, which are then ejected in thedirection of a person. The air-conditioned air flow is intended toinduce a comfortable temperature sensation in the person.

If appropriate air conditioning devices are used in combination with avehicle seat, the temperature-controlled air flow is intended toincrease climate comfort in the vicinity of the vehicle seat. Forexample, appropriate air conditioning devices can be used to eject atemperature-controlled air flow in the direction of a neck area of theseat user. This ensures considerable increase in comfort, particularlywith convertible vehicles.

Air conditioning devices designed as neck warmers are known. In theprior art, which devices draw in cold air from the environment, whereinthe cold air is then heated from the ambient temperature to the desiredtarget temperature by the air conditioning device. So that the air,which is temperature-controlled by the temperature-control device of theair conditioning device, is not cooled down again by the cold air flowdrawn in before it reaches the user, the air inlet opening of known airconditioning devices is usually arranged away from the air outletopening such that heat exchange between the drawn-in air flow and theejected air flow is avoided.

The known air conditioning devices often have a complex construction anda large number of parts due to the complex air guidance. Furthermore,the effective temperature-control surface or the effective temperaturecontrol range of the ejected temperature-controlled air is comparativelysmall, since in known air conditioning devices, an air flow is ejectedwith a comparatively small flow cross-section.

SUMMARY

The object on which the invention is based is thus to improve theeffectiveness of corresponding air conditioning devices without therebyincreasing the complexity of the equipment and/or increasing the numberof parts required.

The object is achieved by an air conditioning device of the typementioned at the outset, wherein the at least one air inlet opening andthe at least one air outlet opening of the air conditioning deviceaccording to the invention are arranged next to one another,particularly directly next to one another.

These teachings relate to an air conditioning device having at least oneflow generator, which is configured to generate an air flow, at leastone air inlet opening which is fluidically connected to a flow inlet ofthe flow generator to draw in air to be temperature-controlled, at leastone air outlet opening which is fluidically connected to a flow outletof the flow generator in order to eject temperature-controlled air, anda temperature-control device which is configured to control thetemperature of the air drawn in through the at least one air inletopening prior to the ejection thereof through the at least one airoutlet opening.

The invention further relates to a support device for a vehicle seat,having a preferably padded support body, which has a support surface forthe back and/or back of the head of a user, and an air conditioningdevice to draw in, control the temperature of and eject an air flow,wherein the air conditioning device is arranged within the support body.

In addition, the invention relates to a vehicle seat having a,preferably padded, buttocks receiving body, which provides a seatsurface for a user, and a support device for supporting the back and/orthe head of the user.

Such an arrangement of the at least one air inlet opening and the atleast one air outlet opening allows pre-temperature-controlled air to bedrawn in through the at least one air inlet opening, wherein thepre-temperature-controlled air has previously been ejected through theat least one air outlet opening. In this way, the temperature-controlledair is reused or used for multiple purposes, so that heat recuperationis implemented. This allows more efficient and faster temperaturecontrol of the air, since the temperature change to be implemented bythe air conditioning device is reduced. The temperature control ofambient air, which has the ambient temperature, requires a higher energyinput and a longer temperature-control time compared to the temperaturecontrol of already pre-temperature-controlled air. The temperaturecontrol can relate to the warming or heating or cooling of the airwithin the air conditioning device. In addition, the arrangementaccording to the invention of the at least one air inlet opening and theat least one air outlet opening results in a spreading out or wideningof the outflow angle, since a turbulence effect in the transition regionbetween the at least one air inlet opening and the at least one airoutlet opening leads to an outward deflection of the ejectedtemperature-controlled air. The effective temperature control range ofthe air conditioning device is thus also enlarged.

The air supply to and/or the air discharge from the flow generator cantake place, for example, through air ducts. Alternatively oradditionally, the air supply to and/or the air discharge from the flowgenerator can be implemented at least partially through the structure ofthe body surrounding the air conditioning device. Thetemperature-control device can comprise one or more electrical heatingelements. The temperature-control device particularly comprises one ormore PTC heating elements, one or more electrical heating foils, one ormore resistance heating wires and/or one or more infrared radiators. Theone or the plurality of heating foils can be printed, electricallyconductive heating foils. The resistance heating wires can be linear orspiral-shaped resistance heating wires. Alternatively or additionally,the temperature-control device can comprise one or more thermoelectricdevices. The one or the plurality of thermoelectric devices can bedesigned as Peltier elements. The flow generator can be designed as afan. The flow generator is particularly designed as a radial fan.

In a preferred embodiment, the air conditioning device according to theinvention has an, particularly one-piece, air routing body whichcomprises the at least one air inlet opening and the at least one airoutlet opening. The at least one air inlet opening and the at least oneair outlet opening are preferably located in a common air flow plane.The air routing body is preferably configured to be inserted into asupport device of a vehicle seat, for example, in a headrest or abackrest of a vehicle seat, or to be fastened to the support device. Ascreen which encloses the at least one air inlet opening and the atleast one air outlet opening can be arranged on the air routing body.The screen can be connected to the air routing body. For example, thescreen is fastened to the air routing body. Alternatively, the airrouting body and the screen can be integral components of a one-piecebody. The air routing body and/or the screen are preferably made ofplastic. The air routing body and/or the screen can, for example, be aplastic injection-molded part.

In another preferred embodiment of the air conditioning device accordingto the invention, the at least one air inlet opening and the at leastone air outlet opening form a common air passage opening. The common airpassage opening is thus a combined air inlet and air outlet opening. Thecommon air passage opening prevents the at least one air inlet openingand the at least one air outlet opening from being formed separatelyfrom one another, which would result in a high level of devicecomplexity and would require a high number of parts. The common airpassage opening thus leads to a structurally simple, compact andlightweight air conditioning device. A saving in weight and installationspace can thus be implemented.

In a further preferred embodiment of the air conditioning deviceaccording to the invention, an inlet flow region directly adjoining theat least one air inlet opening runs separately from an outlet flowregion to which the at least one air outlet opening adjoins directly. Byseparating the inlet flow region and the outlet flow region, an exchangeof fluid between the air flow to be temperature-controlled and thetemperature-controlled air flow within the air conditioning device isavoided. A corresponding exchange of fluid, which also leads to a heatexchange between the air flow to be temperature-controlled and thetemperature-controlled air flow, takes place only outside the airconditioning device, so that the air drawn in through the at least oneair inlet opening is already pre-temperature-controlled. The separationof the inlet flow region from the outlet flow region also leads to areduction or avoidance of a heat exchange between the air flow to betemperature-controlled and the temperature-controlled air flow withinthe air conditioning device.

In a further development of the air conditioning device according to theinvention, the outlet flow region has a free flow cross-section thatincreases in the flow direction of the temperature-controlled air. Theoutlet flow region can, for example, be funnel-shaped or frustoconical.Due to the increasing free flow cross-section of the outlet flow region,the effective temperature control region outside the air conditioningdevice is increased, since the temperature-controlled air flow spreadsout laterally through the at least one air outlet opening after leavingthe air conditioning device. For example, comprehensive temperaturecontrol of the neck region of a seat user can thus be implemented. Thespreading out of the ejected air flow also leads to increasedtemperature uniformity, which is perceived by a seat user as increasingcomfort.

In another preferred embodiment of the air conditioning device accordingto the invention, the outlet flow region is delimited by lateral wallsurfaces, wherein two opposite wall surfaces diverge in the flowdirection of the temperature-controlled air and are arranged at a spreadangle to one another. The spread angle can, for example, be in anangular range between 0 and 60 degrees, particularly between 0 and 15degrees. Because the two opposite wall surfaces diverge in the flowdirection of the temperature-controlled air, the ejectedtemperature-controlled air is spread apart, so that the region outsidethe air conditioning device through which the temperature-controlled airflow flows is considerably enlarged.

In a further development, the air conditioning device according to theinvention has at least two inlet flow regions, wherein the outlet flowregion is arranged between the two inlet flow regions. The two inletflow regions are preferably arranged in the vertical and/or horizontaldirection on the outside of the outlet flow region. One inlet flowregion is preferably arranged to the side, particularly to the left andright, of the outlet flow region. Alternatively or additionally, aninlet flow region is arranged above and/or an inlet flow region isarranged below the outlet flow region. The air conditioning devicepreferably has at least two air inlet openings, wherein the air outletopening is arranged between the two air inlet openings. The two airinlet openings are preferably arranged on the outside of the air outletopening in the vertical and/or horizontal direction. An air inletopening is preferably arranged to the side, particularly to the left andright, of the air outlet opening. Alternatively or additionally, an airinlet opening is arranged above and/or an air inlet opening below theair outlet opening. The at least two air inlet openings result in atleast two transition regions in which a fluid and heat exchange betweenan inlet air flow and an outlet air flow is implemented outside the airconditioning device. In addition, at least two air turbulence regionsare formed in the boundary region between the air inlet openingsconnected to the inlet flow regions and the air outlet opening connectedto the outlet flow region.

In a further preferred embodiment, the air conditioning device accordingto the invention has a guide grille body. The guide grille bodycomprises a plurality of air guide elements which form a latticestructure and are configured to influence the flow direction of the airflow within the air routing body and/or the flow direction of the airflow out of the air routing body. The lattice structure is preferablyformed by a plurality of air guide elements that run parallel to oneanother and/or at an angle to one another. The guide grille bodypreferably has a first group of air guide elements that run parallel toone another and are arranged spaced apart from one another and a secondgroup of air guide elements that run parallel to one another and arearranged spaced apart from one another, wherein the air guide elementsof the first group and the air guide elements of the second groups areangled to one another, particularly are arranged at right angles to oneanother. The guide grille body can be connected to the air routing bodyand/or inserted into the air routing body. For example, the guide grillebody is fastened to the air routing body. Alternatively, the air routingbody and the guide grille body can be integral components of a one-piecebody. The guide grille body is preferably made of plastic. The guidegrille body can, for example, be a plastic injection-molded part.

In another preferred embodiment of the air conditioning device accordingto the invention, the guide grille body is arranged in the outlet flowregion and/or in the inlet flow region and preferably in the vicinity ofthe at least one air outlet opening and/or the at least one air inletopening, wherein the air guide elements are preferably fan-like arrangedair guide blades. The air guide blades can each have orientations thatdeviate from one another, particularly deviating blade angles.Individual or all of the air guide blades can extend both through theoutlet flow region and through the inlet flow region. The guide grillebody can have a first group of air guide blades and a second group ofair guide blades. The air guide blades of the first group can be alignedessentially vertically, wherein the air guide blades of the second groupcan be aligned essentially horizontally. In the vertical or horizontalorientation, the air guide blades can have different horizontal orvertical blade angles. A horizontal and/or vertical spreading out of theflow can be achieved by means of the air guide blades. The air guideblades can be fastened immovably and/or rigidly. Alternatively, the airguide blades can also be movable, particularly with regard to theirblade angle. The flow direction of the ejected temperature-controlledair can be influenced by changing the blade angle of the air guideblades by movable air guide blades.

In addition, an air conditioning device according to the invention isadvantageous in which the at least one air inlet opening and the flowgenerator are connected via one or more inlet flow channels. The flowgenerator and the at least one air outlet opening are preferablyconnected via one or more outlet flow channels. The one or the pluralityof inlet flow channels and the one or the plurality of outlet flowchannels can be formed separately from one another and/or arrangedadjacent to one another. Separating lamellae, which separate the inletand outlet flows from one another within the air routing body, arepreferably arranged between the one or the plurality of inlet flowchannels and the one or the plurality of outlet flow channels. Theseparating lamellae preferably carry the lateral wall surfaces whichlaterally delimit the outlet flow region.

In another preferred embodiment of the air conditioning device accordingto the invention, the air routing body comprises the one or theplurality of inlet flow channels, the one or the plurality of outletflow channels, the one or the two inlet flow regions and/or the outletflow region. Thus, the air guidance in front of and behind the flowgenerator and the temperature-control device is essentially completelyimplemented by the air routing body.

In addition, an air conditioning device according to the invention ispreferred in which the flow generator and the temperature-control devicehave a common fan housing, wherein the air routing body preferably isfastened to the fan housing. The air conditioning device is thus ofmodular design, so that the operating properties of the air conditioningdevice can be changed by replacing the fan housing comprising the flowgenerator and the temperature-control device and/or by replacing the airrouting body. The modular structure results in a low system complexity.There is also a significant reduction in the number of parts. Inaddition, the manufacturing and assembly costs are significantlyreduced.

In a further development of the air conditioning device according to theinvention, the at least one air inlet opening and the at least one airoutlet opening are arranged next to one another such that, duringoperation of the air conditioning device outside the air conditioningdevice, in the transition region between the at least one air inletopening and the at least one air outlet opening, an air turbulence isformed, which deflects ejected air to the outside through the at leastone air outlet opening. The outflow angle of the temperature-controlledair is thus increased further. This ultimately leads to an enlargementof the effective temperature control range of the air conditioningdevice, as a result of which, for example, a uniform and comprehensivewarming of the neck of a seat user can be realized.

The air conditioning device according to the invention can furthermorehave a temperature sensor which is configured to detect the temperatureof the air flow drawn in through the at least one air inlet opening. Thetemperature sensor can be used to measure the inlet temperature of theinflowing air. The input temperature measurement can be used to adaptthe heating power of the temperature-control device to the detectedtemperature of the drawn-in air. The temperature sensor can bepositioned on a printed circuit board of the air conditioning device.Alternatively, the temperature sensor can also be arranged on the fanhousing in the air intake region or in the inlet flow region of the airrouting body. On the basis of the detected air temperature and takinginto account the air delivery volume, which is set by the controlelectronics, the heating power of the temperature-control device can beset so that a constant temperature of the ejected air is achieved. Byusing preheated drawn-in air, energy-efficient operation of the airconditioning device is possible due to the energy recuperationimplemented with a lower temperature difference between the drawn-in airand the outlet air.

The object on which the invention is based is further achieved by asupport device of the type mentioned at the outset, wherein the airconditioning device of the support device according to the invention isdesigned according to one of the embodiments described above. Withregard to the advantages and modifications of the support deviceaccording to the invention, reference is first made to the advantagesand modifications of the air conditioning device according to theinvention.

In the support device according to the invention,pre-temperature-controlled air is drawn in, which, for example,accumulates in the neck region of a seat user. Through the design of theair conditioning device, the outflow angle of the temperature-controlledair is spread out or widened, so that the outflow region of thetemperature-controlled air covers the entire neck region. Due to thedrawing-in of pre-temperature-controlled air, the air conditioningdevice can also be operated extremely energy-efficiently, since thetemperature adjustment to be implemented is reduced.

In a preferred embodiment, the support device according to the inventionis designed as a headrest for a vehicle seat. Alternatively, the supportdevice according to the invention can also be designed as a backrest fora vehicle seat. The at least one air inlet opening and/or the at leastone air outlet opening of the air conditioning device are preferablypositioned in a neck region of the support device and/or arranged suchthat the temperature-controlled air flow is ejected into a neck regionof the seat user.

In another preferred embodiment of the support device according to theinvention, the at least one air inlet opening and/or the at least oneair outlet opening of the air conditioning device are at least partiallysurrounded by the support surface of the support body or integrated intothe support surface of the support body. The at least one air inletopening and/or the at least one air outlet opening can be covered by anair-permeable seat cover. The air-permeable seat cover can act as afilter, so that contamination of the air conditioning device is avoided.

The object on which the invention is based is further achieved by avehicle seat of the type mentioned at the outset, wherein the supportdevice of the vehicle seat according to the invention is designedaccording to one of the embodiments described above. With regard to theadvantages and modifications of the vehicle seat according to theinvention, reference is made to the advantages and modifications of theair conditioning device according to the invention and to the advantagesand modifications of the support device according to the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Preferred embodiments of the invention are explained and described inmore detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Shownare:

FIG. 1 an embodiment of the air conditioning device according to theinvention in a sectional view;

FIG. 2 an embodiment of the support device according to the invention ina front view;

FIG. 3 the support device shown in FIG. 2 in a sectional view fromabove;

FIG. 4 an air routing body of an air conditioning device according tothe invention in a front view;

FIG. 5 an air routing body of a further air conditioning deviceaccording to the invention in a front view;

FIG. 6 an air routing body of a further air conditioning deviceaccording to the invention in a front view; and

FIG. 7 an air routing body of a further air conditioning deviceaccording to the invention in a front view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows an air conditioning device 10 which can be used fortemperature control of an air flow and which can be used in a vehicleseat.

The air conditioning device 10 comprises a fan unit 12, which isconnected to an air routing body 14 in a reversible and non-destructivedetachable manner. The air routing body 14 is plugged onto a fan housing16 of the fan unit 12.

A flow generator 18 and a temperature-control device 20 are arrangedinside the fan housing 16 made of plastic. The flow generator 18 isdesigned as a radial fan and is used for generating an air flow. Thetemperature-control device 20 comprises one or more electrical heatingelements, such as PTC heating elements. The temperature-control device20 is used for temperature control, for example, for heating or cooling,of the air flow generated by the flow generator 18. The air flow to betemperature-controlled is guided past the temperature-control device 20so that a corresponding heat exchange can take place.

The air routing body 14 has two lateral air inlet openings 22 a, 22 band an air outlet opening 24 arranged between the air inlet openings 22a, 22 b. The air inlet openings 22 a, 22 b serve to draw in air to betemperature-controlled. The air inlet openings 22 a, 22 b arefluidically connected to a flow inlet of the flow generator 18. The airoutlet opening 24 is used to eject temperature-controlled air. The airoutlet opening 24 is fluidically connected to a flow outlet of the flowgenerator 18. The temperature-control device 20 is consequentlyconfigured to control the temperature of the air drawn in through theair inlet openings 22 a, 22 b prior to the ejection thereof through theair outlet opening 24. The air inlet openings 22 a, 22 b and the airoutlet opening 24 are arranged directly next to one another. The airinlet openings 22 a, 22 b and the air outlet opening 24 form a commonair passage opening.

Because the air inlet openings 22 a, 22 b and the air outlet opening 24are arranged directly next to one another, the air drawn in through theair inlet openings 22 a, 22 b is already pre-temperature-controlled,since it is drawn in from a temperature-control region into which thetemperature-controlled air is ejected through the air outlet opening 24.The temperature control region can be, for example, the neck region of avehicle seat user. In the neck region of the vehicle seat user, heataccumulates due to the continuous ejecting of temperature-controlledair, so that the air drawn in by the air conditioning device 10 isalready pre-temperature-controlled.

The air inlet openings 22 a, 22 b are each directly adjoined by an inletflow region 26 a, 26 b, wherein the inlet flow regions 26 a, 26 b areformed separately from an outlet flow region 28, to which the air outletopening 24 directly adjoins. An exchange of fluid between the air flowto be temperature-controlled and the temperature-controlled air flowwithin the air conditioning device 10 is avoided in this way.Furthermore, the heat exchange between the air flow to betemperature-controlled and the temperature-controlled air flow withinthe air conditioning device 10 is reduced.

The outlet flow region 28 is delimited by lateral wall surfaces 30 a, 30b, wherein the lateral wall surfaces 30 a, 30 b are supported byseparating lamellae 34 a, 34 b. The wall surfaces 30 a, 30 b arearranged opposite one another and diverge in the flow direction of thetemperature-controlled air. The wall surfaces 30 a, 30 b run such that aspread angle α is formed between the wall surfaces 30 a, 30 b. Thespread angle α can be between 40 and 55 degrees depending on theembodiment of the air routing body 14. Due to the diverging lateral wallsurfaces 30 a, 30 b, the outlet flow region 28 has a free flowcross-section that increases in the flow direction of thetemperature-controlled air. Furthermore, a guide grille body 31 isarranged in the outlet flow region 28 in the vicinity of the air outletopening 24. The guide grille body 31 comprises a plurality of air guideelements arranged in a fan-like manner and designed as air guide blades32 a-32 f. The air guide blades 32 a-32 f each have a orientation thatdeviates from the others.

The air routing body 14 of the air conditioning device 10 has inlet flowchannels 36 a, 36 b in the inlet flow regions 26 a, 26 b, which channelsfluidically connect the air inlet openings 22 a, 22 b to the flowgenerator 18. In the embodiment shown, additional air guidance throughthe object in which the air conditioning device 10 is inserted isrequired so that the inlet flow channels 36 a, 36 b are connected to theflow inlet of the flow generator 18. The flow generator 18 and the airoutlet opening 24 of the air routing body 14 are connected via an outletflow channel 38. The inlet flow channel 36 a and the outlet flow channel38 are formed adjacent to one another and separated from one another bythe separating lamellae 34 a. The inlet flow channel 36 b and the outletflow channel 38 are arranged adjacent to one another and separated fromone another by the separating lamellae 34 b.

The air routing body 14 is connected to a support surface 104 of asupport body 102 via a screen 15 which encloses the air inlet openings22 a, 22 b and the air outlet opening 24. The support body 102 is anupholstery unit of a headrest, wherein the air routing body 14 and theguide grille body 31 are integrated into the front shell of theheadrest.

FIG. 2 shows that the air routing body 14 has an air passage openingwhich is enclosed by the screen 15 and which comprises both the airinlet openings 22 a, 22 b and the air outlet opening 24. The air passageopening is thus a combined air inlet and air outlet opening.

The one-piece air routing body 14 and the fan unit 12 of the airconditioning device 10 are arranged within a support body 102 of asupport device 100. The support device 100 is designed as a headrest fora vehicle seat. The support body 102 is padded and has a support surface104 for the back of the head of a user. When using the support device100 designed as a headrest, the air inlet openings 22 a, 22 b and theair outlet opening 24 are arranged in the vicinity of the neck of theuser of the vehicle seat. The air inlet openings 22 a, 22 b and the airoutlet opening 24 are surrounded by the support surface 104 of thesupport body 102.

Due to the arrangement of the air conditioning device 10 within asupport device 100 designed as a headrest, preheated air whichaccumulates in the neck region can be drawn in. The temperature controlof preheated air can be done much faster and more energy-efficientlythan the temperature control of non-preheated ambient air. Due to theconstruction of the air routing body 14, the temperature-controlled airis ejected in a spread out or widened outflow cone, so that temperaturecontrol of the entire neck region of the user can be implemented.

The air inlet openings 22 a, 22 b and the air outlet opening 24 arearranged next to one another such that when the air conditioning device10 is in operation outside the air conditioning device 10 in thetransition region between the air inlet openings 22 a, 22 b and the airoutlet opening 24, air turbulences are formed, which deflect the ejectedair through the air outlet opening 24 to the outside. The air turbulencethus increases the outflow cone of the temperature-controlled air again.This ultimately leads to an increase in the effective temperaturecontrol range, which can be used to warm the neck.

FIG. 3 shows an air conditioning device 10 which is integrated into asupport device 100 designed as a headrest. In this embodiment, the airrouting body 14, the screen 15 and the guide grille body 31 are designedas integral components of a one-piece plastic body. The introduction ofthe drawn-in air into the flow generator 18 via the inlet flow regions26 a, 26 b of the air routing body 14 and the flow channels 106 a, 106 badjoining the inlet flow regions 26 a, 26 b is also illustrated. Theflow channels 106 a, 106 b are at least partially formed by internalstructures of the support body 102. The internal structures of thesupport body 102 can comprise air guide elements which, in combinationwith the fan housing 16 of the fan unit 12, form the flow channels 106a, 106 b.

As an alternative to the arrangement in a headrest, the air conditioningdevice 10 can also be integrated into a backrest of a vehicle seat. Inthis case, the support surface 104 would serve to support the back andpreferably the back of the head of a user.

FIG. 4 shows an air routing body 14 having only one air inlet opening 22and only one air outlet opening 24. The air inlet opening 22 and the airoutlet opening 24 are arranged next to one another in the horizontaldirection. The air inlet opening 22 has a significantly smaller openingarea than the air outlet opening 24. The inlet flow region 26 and theoutlet flow region 28 in the interior of the air routing body 14 areseparated from one another by the upright separating lamellae 34. Aplurality of air guide blades 32 a-32 e, 40 a-40 d of a guide grillebody 31 extend through the inlet flow region 26 and the outlet flowregion 28. The air guide blades 40 a-40 d run in the horizontaldirection both through the inlet flow region 26 and through the outletflow region 28 and are lined-up such that the ejected,temperature-controlled air flow follows the outlet flow direction x. Theair guide blades 32 a-32 e stand upright in the outlet flow region 28and are lined-up such that the temperature-controlled air flow spreadsout laterally after leaving the air routing body 14, so that a flow conethat increases with increasing distance from the air routing body 14 iscreated. In the embodiment shown, the air inlet opening 22 and the inletflow region 26 are arranged to the left of the air outlet opening 24 andthe outlet flow region 28, respectively. Alternatively, the air inletopening 22 and the inlet flow region 26 can also be arranged to theright of the air outlet opening 24 and the outlet flow region 28,respectively.

FIG. 5 shows an air routing body 14 having two air inlet openings 22 a,22 b and only one air outlet opening 24. The air inlet openings 22 a, 22b are arranged on opposite sides of the air outlet opening 24. The airoutlet opening 24 is thus arranged between the air inlet openings 22 a,22 b. The air inlet openings 22 a, 22 b have a significantly smalleropening area than the air outlet opening 24. The inlet flow regions 26a, 26 b and the outlet flow region 28 in the interior of the air routingbody 14 are separated from one another by the upright separatinglamellae 34 a, 34 b. A plurality of air guide blades 32 a-32 d, 40 a-40d of a guide grille body 31 extend through the inlet flow regions 26 a,26 b and the outlet flow region 28. The air guide blades 40 a-40 d runin the horizontal direction both through the inlet flow regions 26 a, 26b and through the outlet flow region 28 and are lined up such that theejected, temperature-controlled air flow follows the outlet flowdirection x. The air guide blades 32 a-32 d stand upright in the outletflow region 28 and are lined up such that the temperature-controlled airflow spreads out laterally after leaving the air routing body 14, sothat a flow cone that increases with increasing distance from the airrouting body 14 is created.

FIG. 6 shows an air routing body 14 in which the air inlet openings 22a, 22 b and the inlet flow regions 26 a, 26 b are not arranged laterallynext to the air outlet opening 24 or the outlet flow region 28, as inFIG. 5 , but rather above and below the air outlet opening 24 and theoutlet flow region 28, respectively.

FIG. 7 shows an air routing body 14 in which the air inlet opening 22and the inlet flow region 26 are not arranged laterally next to the airoutlet opening 24 or the outlet flow region 28, as in FIG. 4 , butrather below the air outlet opening 24 and the outlet flow region 28,respectively. Alternatively, the air inlet opening 22 and the inlet flowregion 26 can also be arranged above the air outlet opening 24 and theoutlet flow region 28, respectively.

Reference numbers 10 air conditioning device 12 fan unit 14 air routingbodies 15 screen 16 fan housing 18 flow generator 20 temperature-controldevice 22, 22a, 22b air inlet openings 24 air outlet opening 26, 26a,26b inlet flow regions 28 outlet flow region 30a, 30b wall surfaces 31guide grille body 32a-32f air guide blades 34, 34a, 34b separatinglamellae 36a, 36b inlet flow channels 38 outlet flow channel 40a-40d airguide blades 100 support device 102 support body 104 support surface106a, 106b flow channels α spread angle x outlet flow direction

The invention claimed is:
 1. An air conditioning device for a vehicleseat, the air conditioning device comprising: at least one flowgenerator configured to generate an air flow; at least one air inletopening fluidically connected to a flow inlet channel of the at leastone flow generator to draw in air to be temperature-controlled; at leastone air outlet opening fluidically connected to a flow outlet channel ofthe at least one flow generator to eject the temperature-controlled air;a temperature-control device configured to control a temperature of theair drawn in through the at least one air inlet opening prior to the airbeing ejected from the at least one air outlet opening; wherein the atleast one air inlet opening and the at least one air outlet opening arearranged next to one another; and wherein the air conditioning devicecomprises a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of theair drawn into the at least one air inlet opening and to adapt a heatingpower of the temperature-control device to the detected temperature ofthe air drawn into the at least one air inlet opening so that atemperature of the ejected air from the at least one air outlet openingand the temperature of the air drawn into the at least one air inletopening is substantially constant.
 2. The air conditioning deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the air conditioning device comprises aone-piece, air routing body comprising the at least one air inletopening and the at least one air outlet opening.
 3. The air conditioningdevice according to claim 1, wherein the at least one air inlet openingand the at least one air outlet opening form a common air passageopening.
 4. The air conditioning device according to claim 1, wherein aninlet flow region directly adjoining the at least one air inlet openingruns separately from an outlet flow region to which the at least one airoutlet opening adjoins directly.
 5. The air conditioning deviceaccording to claim 4, wherein the outlet flow region has a free flowcross-section, which increases in a flow direction of thetemperature-controlled air.
 6. The air conditioning device according toclaim 1, wherein the pair of opposing diverging walls of the flow outletchannel are arranged at a spread angle to one another, the spread anglehas a vertex that is offset from a rotational axis of the at least oneflow generator.
 7. The air conditioning device according to claim 4,wherein the outlet flow region is arranged between two inlet flowregions.
 8. The air conditioning device according to claim 2, whereinthe air conditioning device comprises a guide grille body, which has aplurality of air guide elements which form a lattice structure and areconfigured to influence a flow direction of the air flow within the airrouting body and/or the flow direction of the air flow out of the airrouting body.
 9. The air conditioning device according to claim 8,wherein the guide grille body is arranged in an outlet flow regionand/or in an inlet flow region and in a vicinity of the at least one airoutlet opening and/or the at least one air inlet opening, wherein theair guide elements are fan-like arranged air guide blades.
 10. The airconditioning device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one airinlet opening and the at least one flow generator are connected via oneor more inlet flow channels, and the at least one flow generator and theat least one air outlet opening are connected via one or more outletflow channels, wherein the one or more inlet flow channels and the oneor more outlet flow channels are formed separately from one anotherand/or are arranged adjacent to one another.
 11. The air conditioningdevice according to claim 2, wherein the air routing body comprises oneor more inlet flow channels, one or more outlet flow channels, one ormore inlet flow regions and/or an outlet flow region.
 12. The airconditioning device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one flowgenerator and the temperature-control device have a common fan housing,wherein the air routing body is fastened to the fan housing.
 13. The airconditioning device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one airinlet opening and the at least one air outlet opening are arranged nextto one another such that, when the air conditioning device is inoperation, outside the air conditioning device in a transition regionbetween the at least one air inlet opening and the at least one airoutlet opening, an air turbulence forms which deflects the air ejectedthrough the at least one air outlet opening to the outside.
 14. Asupport device comprising: a support body which has a support surfacefor a back and/or a back of a head of a user; and the air conditioningdevice according to claim 1, to draw in, control the temperature of andeject the air flow, the air conditioning device being arranged withinthe support body.
 15. The support device according to claim 14, whereinthe support device is a headrest or a backrest of the vehicle seat. 16.The support device according to claim 14, wherein the at least one airinlet opening and/or the at least one air outlet opening of the airconditioning device are at least partially surrounded by the supportsurface of the support body or are integrated into the support surfaceof the support body.
 17. A vehicle seat, having a seat surface for theuser; and the support device according to claim
 14. 18. The airconditioning device according to claim 1, wherein the flow outletchannel is defined by a pair of opposing diverging walls that diverge inan outflow direction of the temperature-controlled air, and the flowinlet channel is defined by a pair of walls, which extend at leastpartially alongside the temperature control device to the inlet of theat least one flow generator.
 19. The air conditioning device accordingto claim 18, wherein the pair of walls of the flow inlet channel extendat least partially alongside and past the temperature control device tothe inlet of the at least one flow generator.
 20. The air conditioningdevice according to claim 19, wherein one of the pair of walls of theflow inlet channels directly adjoins one of the pair of opposingdiverging walls of the flow outlet channel, a cross section of the inletflow channel is generally constant, and the inlet flow channel has asubstantially linear extension.